dung-aw
dung-áw with stress marks
indigenous eulogy song
Usage Note
Dung-aw is a traditional Ilocano and Cordilleran funeral chant or lament sung to honor the deceased, performed by women who improvise lyrics praising the life and virtues of the dead. It represents a living oral tradition connecting the living to their ancestors.
Examples
" Maganda ang dung-aw. "
Natural Translation
The eulogy chant is beautiful.
Literal Translation
Beautiful the dung-aw.
" Inawit ng matatanda ang dung-aw sa libing ng kanilang pinuno. "
Natural Translation
The elders sang the eulogy chant at their leader's funeral.
Literal Translation
Sang the-by elders the dung-aw at-the funeral of their leader.
" Tuwing may namamatay sa nayon, may matandang babaeng inaawit ang dung-aw upang parangalan ang yumao at aliwin ang mga naulila. "
Natural Translation
Whenever someone dies in the village, an old woman sings the eulogy chant to honor the deceased and comfort the bereaved.
Literal Translation
Every-time there-is dying in-the village, there-is old woman sings the dung-aw in-order honor the deceased and comfort the bereaved.
Take Tagalog with you
The full course, a 12,500-word dictionary, and flashcards that make every word stick — free to start on iOS and Android.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workRelated Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.
Na vs -ng in Tagalog: The Linker Rule Made Simple
When do you use na vs -ng in Tagalog? One simple rule, with clear examples, memory tips, and common mistakes explained for English-speaking beginners.
Mano Po and Filipino Etiquette: A Visitor's Guide
Mano po presses an elder's hand to your forehead as a blessing. Learn who to mano, how to lip-point, and the etiquette that wins over a Filipino family.
Days of the Week and Months in Tagalog
The days of the week and months in Tagalog are Spanish loanwords. Learn all 7 days and 12 months with pronunciation, plus how to say dates and 'every Monday.'
Is Tagalog Hard to Learn? An Honest Answer
Tagalog takes around 1,100 hours to reach professional proficiency. Here is what is easy, what is hard, and what to expect at 3, 6, and 12 months.